Fisheries industry records progress

The fisheries industry has recorded a 28.6 per cent progress during the third quarter of this year compared to the 1.2 per cent progress achieved during the corresponding period last year, according to statistics of the Census and Statistics Department.

The increase in deep sea fishing and the relaxing of fishing restrictions along the Eastern coastal area had largely contributed towards this progress, a Government Information Department release said.

The harvest of sea fish alone had increased from 49,280 metric tons to 61,300 metric tons during this period which is a 24.4 per cent increase. The development of inland fishing industry had contributed to the 50.4 per cent increase in the inland fish harvest.

Six million fingerlings were released to the reservoirs early this year which contributed to the increased harvest during the last quarter of this year.